Jim Davis Movies
Jim Davis' show business career began in a circus where he worked as a tent-rigger. He came to Los Angeles as a traveling salesman in 1940, gradually drifting into the movies following an MGM screen test with Esther Williams. After six long years in minor roles, he was "introduced" in 1948's Winter Meeting, co-starring with Bette Davis (no relation, though the Warner Bros. publicity department made much of the fact that the two stars shared the same name). He never caught on as a romantic lead, however, and spent most of the 1950s in secondary roles often as Western heavies. He starred in two syndicated TV series, Stories of the Century (1954) and Rescue 8 (1958-1959), and made at least 200 guest star appearances on other programs. Jim Davis is best known today for his work as oil-rich Jock Ewing on the prime time TV serial Dallas, a role he held down from 1978 to his unexpected death following surgery in 1981. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide- 1964
In this wartime drama set during the Korean conflict, a squadron must destroy a North Korean mortar that is blocking a crucial road. En route the soldiers bicker constantly. One of the soldiers suffers two breakdowns. The operation is further hindered by the arrival of a strict Army nurse and her armored ambulance. Eventually though, the soldiers succeed. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1963
Jean Gabin plays Charles, an aging gangster, newly released from prison. In fine Bogart tradition, the unrepentant Charles immediately sets to work planning a major casino heist in Cannes. His go-between for this endeavor is a chorus girl, whom Charles's associate Francis (Alain Delon) beds in order to win her confidence. This rapidly-paced suspenser was based on a novel by John Trinian. When first distributed in the US, the film travelled under the title Any Number Can Win. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jean Gabin, Alain Delon, (more)
- 1962
Young and wealthy Jennifer Wakely (Joan Freeman) is heartbroken when boyfriend Brad Shelby (Bob McQuain) dumps her to marry the older and wealthier Madelon Haines (Jennifer Howard). As if this wasn't bad enough, Jennifer is told that she has lost all her money and possessions, save for a worn-out race horse named Tiger Lil. Subsequently, Brad purchases the horse for far more than it is worth, but Jennifer angrily rejects this apparent act of charity--and as a result, she finds herself the chief suspect when Brad is murdered. In order to clear the girl's name, Perry Mason (Raymond Burr) may have to get some new evidence straight from the horse's mouth...so to speak. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1962
Paladin (Richard Boone) is hired as escort for Edna Harden (Jeanne Cooper), who is bound for a reunion with her husband, a bank robber recently released from prison. Arriving in a ghost town with Paladin, Edna doesn't find her husband right away, but this doesn't seem to matter in light of the fact that the man has hidden $80,000 in gold somewhere on the premises. Now Paladin must defend Edna and himself against the predatory fortune-hunters who have also descended upon the deserted town. The menace in this episode is in the formidable hands of spaghetti-western icon Lee Van Cleef)and future Star Trek stalwart DeForest Kelley. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
Jim Stockton (James Davis) leads a group of pioneers into California and trouble in this routine western by director Edward L. Cahn. Stockton gets caught up in the battles and grievances between the Mexicans, white Californians, and Native Americans that rage during the 1840s -- the Mexican-American war, in other words. With enough action scenes to keep the story, such as it is, moving right along, and with scenic views of the scrub-filled desert and lead female Consuela (Nancy Hadley), the 68-minute running time passes fairly quickly. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- James Davis, Nancy Hadley, (more)
- 1961
Originally scheduled to air on March 18, 1961, the Bonanza episode "The Gift" finally made its first appearance on April 1 of that same year. Determined to capture a white Arabian stallion as a birthday present for his father, Joe Cartwright makes a treacherous desert journey to Yuma, Arizona. Attacked by Indians en route, Joe finds that his life is in the hands of Emeliano (Martin Landau), the mercurial Mexican who raised the stallion. Also appearing are Jim Davis as Sam Wolfe, Jack Hogan as Cash, and Joe Yrigoyen as Cayetano. "The Gift" was written by Denne Petticlerc and Thomas Thompson. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Pernell Roberts, (more)
- 1961
In this western, an Eastern gambler buys a mail-order ranch, heads out to claim it and discovers that the deed is unregistered, the rightful owner is dead, and that the land has been taken over by cattle rustlers. Strapping on the title weapon, the fellow rectifies the situation, but only after proving himself innocent of murder charges. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1960
Jim Davis was light-years away from his role as Larry Hagman's dad on Dallas when he starred in Noose for a Gunman. In this 1960 B oater, Davis is a gunslinger who is appointed town marshal to clean out the criminal element. It isn't long before Davis is kicked out of town on a trumped-up murder rap. The real villain is cattle baron Barton MacLane, who exercises his usual prerogative of shouting all his lines. Noose for a Gunman was a Premium Production (an inaptly-named firm), released through United Artists. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jim Davis, Lyn Thomas, (more)
- 1959
Bob Hope plays a 19th-century insurance agent whose miserable sales record prompts his boss to send him out West, where he can (supposedly) do little harm. Hope manages to sell a $100,000 life insurance policy--to outlaw Jesse James (Wendell Corey), one of the worst "risks" in history! In his efforts to get the policy back, Hope finds himself being mistaken for Jesse, which is all part of the outlaw's plan to get Hope killed and thereby collect the policy money himself. But with the help of beauteous Rhonda Fleming (the essentially honest beneficiary to Jesse's policy), Hope gains a reputation as a lightning-fast gunslinger. In the inevitable shoot-out with the James gang, Hope is helped out by several famous Westerners, including Gary Cooper, Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, James "Maverick" Garner, and even Tonto (Jay Silverheels). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bob Hope, Rhonda Fleming, (more)
- 1958
The Toughest Gun in Tombstone, at least according to this film, as Arizona ranger Matt Sloane (George Montgomery). Working undercover, Sloane infiltrates an all-star outlaw gang consisting of Johnny Ringo (Jim Davis), Ike Clanton (Gerald Milton), Curly Bill Broces (Lane Bradford) and several other sagebrush celebrities. His purpose: to put an end to the smuggling of silver bullion across the Mexican border. Complicating matters is Sloane's concern over his young son Terry (Scott Morrow), who is being pursued across the territory by the man who murdered Sloane's wife. Not exactly an "A" picture, Toughest Gun in Tombstone is too well-mounted to be dismissed as a "B." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- George Montgomery, Beverly Tyler, (more)
The American government inexplicably tries to send a box of wasps into space, but the mission ends when the rocket crashes in Africa. While on an expedition to recover the insects, an adventurer (Jimmy Lynn Davis) and his team finds the wasps have grown to immense proportions due to accidental radiation treatments. ~ John Bush, All Movie Guide
- 1958
In this western a half-Sioux cavalry officer tries to mediate between settlers and the angry Sioux. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
The actions of various criminals such as Dillinger, Pretty Boy Floyd, Bonnie and Clyde and Baby Face Nelson are reenacted in this film. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1957
In this western, a good man becomes an outlaw after his stagecoach mail business falls to the faster railroad mail. To save his livelihood, the fellow literally attempts to derail his competitor. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1957
Keith Larsen stars as the Apache Kid, an Indian scout. He is willing to cooperate with the US cavalry until his brother is killed by another Native American. The Apache Kid is permitted to seek revenge under tribal law, but white law does not recognize this ruling; as a result the Kid is branded a renegade. A fellow cavalry scout (Jim Davis) is ordered to stop the Kid, but decides instead to let him go and seek out justice in his own way. Supposedly based on fact, Apache Warrior was directed by Elmo Williams, who in 1952 was film editor for the landmark western High Noon. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Keith Larsen, Jim Davis, (more)
- 1957
One of several filmed presentations seen on the otherwise "live" TV anthology Playhouse 90, "Four Women in Black" is a western story based on fact. Ralph Meeker plays outlaw Carbine Webb, who while fleeing a posse takes refuge in a covered wagon in the middle of the desert. But Carbine is not alone: The wagon also shelters four Roman Catholic nuns, who'd been heading to Tucson when they were besieged by horse thieves. Hoping that there is still some essential goodness in Webb, the nuns prevail upon him to guide them to safety. He does so, assuming that once he's played good samaritan, the sisters will leave him alone--but he's very, very wrong. Helen Hayes heads the cast as Sister Theresa, with Katy Jurado, Janice Rule and Narda Onyx as the other three nuns. Originally telecast in 1957, Four Women in Black was rebroadcast by Playhouse 90 on August 22, 1961. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Helen Hayes, Ralph Meeker, (more)
- 1957
In this western, the town sheriff must look into a scandal involving his friend who is reportedly having an affair with a Native American girl while his wife is on a trip. The friend is enraged at the accusations and kills the town attorney. He is then lynched by the angry town folk. The sheriff is perplexed by the brouhaha and begins investigating. Soon he discovers that the whole mess of rumors were started by a saloon owner and a wicked gunman who were conspiring to steel the dead man's valuable land. The sheriff then engages in a showdown with the two villains. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Forrest Tucker, Mara Corday, (more)
- 1957
In this western set in the Mexican controlled part of California, a villainous cavalry officer is trying to force the owner of a hacienda to give him his land when a courageous settler comes to the rescue. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1957
Marshal Brennan (Douglas Fowley) lies dying at the outset of this compact western. Fleeing from a posse, an unnamed gunslinger (Jim Davis) stumbles across Brennan's body. Lifting the marshal's badge, he poses as Brennan in a small cattle town. Before long, the impostor is taking his job seriously, standing up to crooked cattle baron Colonel Donaphan (Louis Jean-Heydt) and the Colonel's psychotic son Shad (Lee Van Cleef). His redemption is complete when the false Brennan finds romantic happiness in the form of a female restaurant owner known as Murdock (Arleen Whelan). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jim Davis, Arleen Whelan, (more)
- 1957
Another of director Allan Dwan's underrated but well-crafted westerns of the 1950s, The Restless Breed stars Scott Brady as a young gunslinger who lives for revenge. When Brady's father is killed by gun runners, he pursues the villains across the Mexican border. Gang leader Jim Davis, beyond the reach of American law, is confident that his henchman can get rid of Brady in short order, but he's wrong. As his hired guns drop like flies, Davis is forced to accept Brady's challenge to a showdown. Anne Bancroft is intriguingly if incongruously cast as an Indian girl who falls in love with Brady. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Scott Brady, Anne Bancroft, (more)
In this western, an imprisoned outlaw is allowed to attend the funeral of his brother, who was shot down by lawmen. He overpowers his guards with a gun slipped to him by his girlfriend then goes searching for his former partners, whom he blames for his brother's death. ~ Brian Gusse, All Movie Guide
- 1957
Lensed in Republic's widescreen Naturama process, this modest little western would seem to be better suited to a standard-ratio screen. After a four-year absence, Johnny Shattuck (Ben Cooper) returns home to find that ex-rustler Dean Cannary (Jim Davis) has his eyes on the Shattuck family farm. To force Johnny off the property, Cannary has fenced off a formerly accessible water hole. Unable to best Cannary through legal means, Johnny reluctant prepares for a one-on-one showdown. Top billing in Duel at Apache Wells is bestowed upon Anna Maria Alberghetti, making her first dramatic, nonsinging film appearance. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Anna Maria Alberghetti, Ben Cooper, (more)
- 1956
Two brothers face their personal demons in this crime melodrama. Donald Martin (Van Johnson) is an alcoholic criminal who has escaped from prison and needs help crossing the Mexican border to freedom. Desperate, he arrives at the ranch of his lawyer brother Martin (Joseph Cotten). Martin has little respect for his brother and would prefer his neighbors not know he's housing a fugitive, so he tries to convince people that Donald is actually someone else. Donald is crushed by his brother's shame and rejection, and, after a drinking binge, he decides that he should try to make the journey into Mexico on his own. Martin's wife Nora (Ruth Roman), who has her own issues with Martin, convinces him to put his differences aside and help Donald however he can. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Van Johnson, Joseph Cotten, (more)
- 1956
The fraternal filmmaking team of produced Sigmund Neufeld and director Sam Newfield once again joined forces on The Wild Dakotas. Made some two years after the "official" demise of the "B" western, the film attempts to revive the genre with a new cowboy star, one Will Williams. In keeping with the "adult western" trend of the period, the so-called hero, a wagonmaster, is something of a psychotic. He attempts to foment a war between the settlers and the local Indian tribe. A surprise is in store for the wagonmaster-and the audience. The veteran cast includes Coleen Gray, Jim Davis, John Litel, John Miljan and the indestructible Iron Eyes Cody. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
